Saint Xavier rolls back the years with Haydock strike

Richard Hobson’s veteran campaigner Saint Xavier left a brief retirement behind him to do the stable proud when landing the Betfred Last Fling Handicap Chase at Haydock.

The gelding will be 13 years old on New Year’s Day and after a extensive career in both France and England, he was put out to pasture by his owner and trainer after a few below-par efforts during 2023.

A quieter life did not suit him and after a 342-day break he resumed his career at Fontwell in November to finish fifth in the Southern National, after which he was fourth in a veterans’ chase at Lingfield in early December.

He lined up at Haydock a 9-1 chance under 5lb claimer Charlie Maggs when returning to a staying trip, jumping neatly and staying on resolutely to come home two and three-quarter lengths ahead of another 12-year-old in Nicky Martin’s The Two Amigos.

“He’s the horse of a lifetime for me,” said Hobson.

“He’s won a major race for me in France, in my colours as his owner and trainer (Prix de France).

“He’s done it twice at Haydock, he’s been unreal. He’s won over £320,000 in prize money.

“We retired him because he’d had a stellar career and after one or two disappointing runs over a year ago, I decided I didn’t want to see him slide down the handicap.

“He just did not enjoy retirement, he hated every second of it, but the nine months off did him the world of good.

“He was totally refreshed and ever since being in work again, he has not looked back.

“I’m absolutely buzzing, it’s really fantastic to think that he can come back at the age of nearly 13 and do that.

“I just wish I’d had him in his younger years and maybe we could have reached higher heights, but he’s a credit to a yard with a small team of horses.

“I don’t know what I’ll do with him now, I just want to enjoy today. They’re hard to come by, these old servants, and to see him come back and do what he’s done is brilliant.”